Guild Of Corporate Online Publishers Set For Its 2nd Annual Conference In Lagos

The Second Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has been scheduled to hold at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State on Friday, October 19, with former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, as Chairman.

A statement by GOCOP’s Publicity Secretary, Olumide Iyanda, said that the theme of the conference is: “Online Publishers’ Role Towards A Sustainable Economy, Credible Election and Security in Nigeria.”

The statement said that former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, will be the guest speaker while the Chairman of Centre of Excellence in Multimedia Technology, Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Professor Ralph Akinfeleye and Director of ICT Centre, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Professor Leonard Shilgba, will be the discussants.

Speaking on the choice of the theme, President of GOCOP, Dotun Oladipo, said that the prevailing economic, political and security realities in Nigeria require keen interest from the media.

“With the 2019 general elections approaching, Nigerians deserve access to authentic news and views, which are best provided through digital platforms upon which GOCOP members operate.

“As an organized body of media practitioners, GOCOP is committed to ensuring that the use of fake news and misinformation do not destroy Nigeria’s political, economic and security progress, hence the need to look at the critical role of online publishers as entrusted to them by the Constitution.”

The statement said that Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other stakeholder groups in the media will be represented at the conference.

It explained that GOCOP represents media organizations registered in Nigeria with promoters drawn from practitioners who have served at senior levels in the Journalism profession.